SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Soon to be one of the largest production studios in the state, Sneaky Big Studio has some big plans.
The 4,000 square foot main studio features ground floor access and a complete lighting grid. Everything is connected to a central control room -- suitable for live or recorded production. Add to that, a full complement of editing suites featuring the latest software.
Vice President and General Manager Stephen Brain feels he has what producers from New York to Los Angeles are looking for.
"Commercials come here all the time," Brain said. "I would like to be able to open up our facility to those productions."
Brain said the time is right for this enterprise, because in 2009, Arizona closed the State's Film Office, a move he says, "told the rest of the country and the production community we're out of business. We're not interested in your business."
Larger business prospects flickered to almost nothing, and projections for a comeback were dim.
"When the house is on fire, you start throwing water on everything," Tray Goodman, a 30 year industry veteran, said.
He says he saw many colleagues up and leave for places like New Mexico, which was still attracting Hollywood dollars.
"They got the film thing funded over there, and a lot of people just migrated over there," Goodman said. "It certainly didn't help us."
Brain, also a lengthy industry veteran, offered this analysis to Arizona Governor, Doug Ducey.
"Jobs and dollars are flying over our heads, going to Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, New York, North Carolina, New Mexico," he said.
He and others feel the success of the film, television and web production field in Arizona will depend on a sizable investment from the state level. Brain said the studio under his direction and the guidance of Bob Parsons could suddenly turn the Hollywood spotlight back onto Arizona.
"That was great news," Goodman said. "We now have someone who has a lot of serious money, he likes to win, he's a visionary, he's a box crusher. It's going to be great for our community."
Brain said the film and television production industry generated only about $12 million in business last year, which is well below the $30 to $40 million it used to bring in. The new studio is scheduled to open for business in July.